CURTIS Ryan is ready to return from the basketball wilderness.
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Knee tendonitis which has plagued the former Vic Country under 18 forward for the past two years, limiting him to rare Warrnambool Seahawks appearances, is under control.
Ryan, 18, will make his much-awaited comeback via the Country Basketball League on Sunday week.
His promising career stalled when he was diagnosed with patellar tendonitis in both knees in 2012.
The highly-rated 204-centimetre prospect said he understood how to manage his injury and was quietly confident of making a full recovery.
“I am not 100 per cent but I am back training and playing,” Ryan said.
“I have to be cautious. I got back into training four or five weeks ago.
“Sometimes it’s not as good as some days but it’s certainly a lot better than a year ago.”
Ryan, who cobbled together three Big V games in 2013, said he had worked closely with Melbourne specialist Jill Cook to overcome his injury setback.
“I was going to see a tendonitis specialist in Melbourne for about a year and she put me through a whole program specifically tailored for me, so that really helped me get back on track,” he said.
“The last time I saw her was two or three months ago.
“She left the last bit of the program for me to do myself.
“There is always doubt but I have really got to stick to the game plan Jill laid out.”
Ryan will play a key role for the Seahawks in the CBL summer competition alongside Big V-listed teenager Liam Killey.
Seahawks coach Craig McLeod, who was an assistant to division one coach of the year Bobby Cunningham during the 2014 Big V season, expects them to provide a strong combination under the ring.
Ryan’s long-term aim is to play for a US college.
The former state representative has earmarked the CBL, a competition the Seahawks use to develop their next tier, as the ideal way to return to the sport after a lengthy lay off.
“I want to rebuild to where I was before the injury,” he said.
“I played a CBL season two years ago and last season sat out because I was injured again. It is a really good way to getting into the flow of basketball again.
“I am very happy. It’s just really good to finally be able to do again what I have been waiting for so long.”
McLeod believes Ryan deserves an opportunity to showcase his raw talent, saying “he might be on TV one day”.
“He has been looking extraordinary at training and is good to go for round one,” he said. “I can’t wait for him to get on the floor and see what he’s got.”
The Seahawks were bundled out of the CBL south-west title race in the semi-finals last season.
Ryan said the team, which has called on former NBL player Matt Alexander for guidance during pre-season, was confident it could challenge 2013-14 premier Mount Gambier Lakers and runner-up Horsham Hornets.
“I reckon we’ll be a very big contender to win the whole thing,” he said.
“Even though we’re young there is a lot of experience in the team and a lot of skill. And our team bonding is good as well.”
The CBL season tips off on October 11.